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marla
Nomad
Posts: 287
Registered: 10-29-2003
Location: Long Beach
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SENTRI passes
I was just reading about the SENTRI passes on the customs web site. I see it costs $129 to get one which might be worth it if it lasts 2 years. How
much faster is it? Also what if you have additional people in the car who don't have a SENTRI pass? Can you still use it? Do all the borders have
these things? Is it also good to go in and out of Canada? Is there a dedicated SENTRI lane? Thanks for the info amigos.
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marla
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Oh also, do they have SENTRI lanes at San Ysidro or just Otay Mesa?
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movinguy
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Location: Chula Vista, CA and Tijuana, MX
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SENTRI is VERY fast - the longest line I have encountered at San Ysidro is maybe 5 cars. There are SENTRI lanes at both SY and Otay.
However, the rules are very strict. If you have non-SENTRI passengers in your car you must go through the regular lanes. You must have each vehicle
inspected/approved in addition to your personal background check(s), and there is no towing of trailers, boats or anything else.
Don't know about Canada specifically but my understanding is that SENTRI is valid at any equipped border crossing in the US.
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
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Maria
Sentri Pass is the only way to go if you are crossing the border at either San Ysidro or Otay Mesa and are crossing often enough to make it worth
while. The $129.oo just covers the car and one person. You have to pay extra for each person that will be using the car (maxium six people). It is a
pain to go to Otay Mesa to do all of the paper work and they do a real thorough backgorund check. More complete than the one that I underwent to go
to the FBI Academy.
I believe that these are the only dedicated lanes in the nation. They have been talking about making a Sentri lane in El Paso but I do not know if it
has gone through at this point.
We have had the pass for almost three years and the average wait, off peak hours is about 2 minutes. Peak can be up to 10 minutes--that is when it is
about an hour in the normal lanes.
If you decide to go this route ask for directons on how to get to the lanes. It is a little tricky until you get used to it.
As moving guy say it is a piece of cake but they are strict.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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jeans
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I will be getting one next time I can get down there. Last week when we walked across the border on our dinner outing, there was a woman who has a
Sentri pass with us. The walk-across traffic is on the far right and that is where the Sentri lane is. It was empty. She said that when she has
passengers she just lets them off, they walk across and she picks them up on the other side. (I'm assuming the US doesn't have a problem with that)
Oh...one other thing. If you ever get caught breaking the rules...so much as forgotten lunch meat in your cooler, you're done....the pass gets yanked
and you get a big fine. At least that was the impression from her. Anyone know for sure?
[Edited on 8-4-2004 by jeans]
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
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Jeans
I have a buddy who is so cheap that he has paid for a pass for only himself. When he brings his wife down he drops her off and she hoofs it across
(customs does not seem to care about this). He goes on into downtown San Ysidro ( Burger King) and has a hamburger and a drink while he waits--that
is about the closest spot to park and wait for your passenger AND the cops are now ticketing everyone illegally parked because this behavior (waiting
for passengers) is causing all kinds of problems for everyone wanting to shop and for the merchants who are really T'ed off.
Think twice about this arrangement.
Yes, they have very strict rules and if it is minor violation you will normall get one warning but the next violation and your pass goes byeby, If it
is serious you can be cited and fined. No jail time unless you are really smuggling. The hole thing is based on comlience with the rules we all have
been breaking for years and years.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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jeans
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja Bernie
I have a buddy who is so cheap that he has paid for a pass for only himself. When he brings his wife down he drops her off and she hoofs it across
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He's lucky she shows up! If I were her I'd keep hoofin'!
Thanks for the info. I'll figure it out when the time comes.
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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movinguy
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Location: Chula Vista, CA and Tijuana, MX
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jeans
I will be getting one next time I can get down there. |
FYI when we got ours last year the wait time for an initial appointment was about 2 months - figure on about 3-4 months for the whole approval
process.
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Baja Bernie
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Moving Guy
So true! I had forgotten the wait. The second time around it is a piece of cake--if you don't change cars and have to re-due the transponder.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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jeans
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| Quote: |
FYI when we got ours last year the wait time for an initial appointment was about 2 months - figure on about 3-4 months for the whole approval
process. |
?Holy Guacamole! I'll call them tomorrow to make an appointment. Thanks!
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 2-2-2003
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Not one comment
about the reasons for having the Sentri pass.
Do any of you even know why they have it? Bernie ??
From what I have seen, it is for gringos, who have relatives, who have homes or properties down here that come for the weekends.
And there is a whole dungload of em.
These are the ones who became "members" in the first place and then enabled all of their family members and friends to become "members".
Watch what happens to those "express" lanes now that ALL the gringos are aware.
By the way, Jeans, aren't you the one that wrote the baja emergencyguide ?
[Edited on 8/4/2004 by jrbaja]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65175
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Photo at http://community-2.webtv.net/boojum1/504 shows Discover Baja's owners (Carol and Hugh Kramer) with the Miguel Salazar, author of the Baja
Emergency Guide...
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movinguy
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Location: Chula Vista, CA and Tijuana, MX
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JR
I have perused many of your posts on this board and have noted that is virtually impossible for you to construct a paragraph without the "g" word
(gringo).
I have a SENTRI pass so I can make spontaneous trips to Baja without worrying about the return trip. I am not there to build a home, erect a fence or
otherwise soil your slice of paradise. I speak the language, respect the culture and abhor "ugly Americans" as much as you do.
SENTRI or not, people will keep coming.
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whodat54321
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Location: El Cajon, CA USA
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it's all in the timing for me.
I work nights, so wait times are not too bad except for weekends, but there is a website,
http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/
that updates hourly if you must know before you go.
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DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: Not far from the Pacific
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I wouldn't worry too much about the SENTRI program getting so overused that it no longer serves the purpose of getting people through the border
quickly. The combination of the length of time it takes to get it, and the detailed and difficult application and background check process filters
people out sort of like washboard roads filter out people who shouldn't be driving down them.
When I renewed my family's passes a few weeks ago, the cashier told me that they are planning more dedicated lanes. The government wants to automate
the process of inspecting border crossing vehicles as much as possible, because it makes economic sense -- the program provides cash from the fees and
allows inspectors to focus their attention elsewhere, like catching bad guys. Makes sense to me. (I could also be paranoid and say that the FBI
wants to be able to track repeated border crossers anywhere they go by homing in on their transponder signals -- but I don't have my tinfoil hat on
today.)
Note to JR: when I was in the SENTRI office a few weeks ago, there were dozens of people applying for or renewing passes. I was the only gringo
there. The fact is that most SENTRI users are Mexican and U.S. businesspeople and workers who want to do cross-border business or get to their
cross-border jobs on time and more efficiently. Again, makes sense to me.
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 2-2-2003
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The word Gringo
is used as a term for norte americanos. From the u.s.. I use it when talking about myself quite regularly. It is not necessarily used as a negative
term although when I use it referring to many from the u.s., it is.
Most of the rural Mexicans consider it negative so they don't use it and frankly, they are quite taken aback when I do.
But the majority of people just think it's a word to describe the northerners.
When I use it on here, it is generally used to describe the arrogant, drunken folks that come down here because they can do things that aren't
allowed in the states. Riding ATV's on the beaches, blowing off fireworks, and drinking way to much whatever.
I also use it to describe the people that pretend to know what they are talking about when they really don't. And there's quite a few of em on here!
Anyways, I will remind those that take offense to what I have to say. Gringo isn't necessarily a bad term although it can be.
Those of you who are P-nche gringos, know who you are. Those that the negative aspect of the word doesn't apply to, keep doing what you are doing.
If the huarache fits!!
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marla
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Registered: 10-29-2003
Location: Long Beach
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Thanks for all the info! So it is good for two years and then when you renew it you don't have to pay for the application and stuff all over again????
Maybe it would be worth it though we do usually end up with extra guests in the car....
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marla
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I wouldn't like to make my guests walk all the way to a fast food restaurant in San Ysidro 
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DanO
Super Nomad
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Location: Not far from the Pacific
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Marla, you do have to pay the application fees when you renew. There is a family maximum fee cap -- I paid $210 to renew for four of us, and there is
a similar fee cap on the intial application. The initial application also requires payment of fees for the vehicle transponder, which are listed on
the DHS SENTRI website. As long as you don't change vehicles, you don't have to pay another transponder fee on renewal.
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jeans
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First available appointment? Second week of NovemberYikes!
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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